Maharashtra government's draft policy on renewable energy sector to be out soon

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government said that a draft of its integrated policy for the renewable energy sector, which is aimed at reducing the state's carbon footprint and boosting the renewable energy sector, would be made public within the next fortnight.

"A draft of our integrated policy for the renewable energy sector, where we will produce energy through solar, wind and co-generation, should be out in the next 10-14 days. It will be put up on the government website where people will be invited to post suggestions," energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule told reporters here.

He said that 7,000-MW power will be produced through solar energy while 2,000-MW would be generated using wind energy while options for co-generation like biogas and bagasse, too, would be explored.

Bawankule had earlier told PTI that the renewable energy sector in the state was unstable due to the lack of a definite policy.

The state energy department is formulating the policy with technical support from the Maharashtra Energy Development Agency, which works for promoting and developing non-conventional and renewable sources of energy.

The minister said the policy will emphasise both grid connected and off-grid power supply.

Grid-connected power supply is that in which the generated power is supplied elsewhere through a power station, while in off-grid supply, the power is for self-use purposes, as in housing societies, government offices, etc.

"Solar power generated by installing solar panels on the roofs of buildings is also a kind of off-grid power," Bawankule said.